HLA-DRhi and CCR9 Define a Pro-Inflammatory Monocyte Subset in IBD

Abstract

CD14(+)HLA-DR(hi) blood monocytes were increased in patients with active IBD. These monocytes exhibit a pro-inflammatory, gut-homing phenotype with regard to their TNF-α production and expression of CCR9. Our results suggest that these monocytes are important in mediating intestinal inflammation, and provide potential therapeutic targets in IBD.